Any lawyers out there with advice as to what next step to take for him to recover his original would be fully appreciated.
Unfortunately, you seemed to make a mistake when you gave to much info to the slovenly bureaucrat, and now she is toying with you...
He should try writing directly, or emailing the South African office of Vital Statistics, or perhaps the one for his province in South Africa...For instance, if he was born in Western Cape simply contact the province office of Vital Statistics, or whatever they call it, and order a duplicate birth from them...Just say he lost it.